Bryn Meadows Golf Hotel & Spa near Ystrad Mynach in Caerphilly have been named Welsh Golf Club of the Year at the Wales Golf Awards ceremony held last week at the Celtic Manor.
Led by David Pocock, Head of Golf Development at Bryn Meadows, changes and challenges to the golf industry are being met head on. There is a significant focus in encouraging more children to take up the sport. A few years ago we only had a handful of children in coaching whereas today we are Wales’ largest Junior Golf Academy with over 100 members in weekly coaching sessions.
A clear pathway has also been created getting the youngsters who practise on our 9 hole First Swing Golf Academy course playing competitions and getting them ready to play a full course. An intermediate membership ideal for 18-29 year olds has also been introduced making the financial step from being a junior member to full member more attainable.
Another significant focus has been getting more ladies into golf. Alongside David, PGA Professional Golfer Katy Edwards was hired by the resort. She is very keen to get more women into the game and to help break down the stereotypes that surround the sport. Currently we have over 20 ladies in coaching as well as a family golf scheme and a successful outreach programme for local businesses and schools.
The biggest development in 2017 was the extension and refurbishment of Winners Bar, traditionally our clubhouse. It has been re-branded to a sports bar, to a sports bar, open to all not only our golf members,and serves a hot and cold snack menu throughout the day, with live sport shown on big screen TV’s as well as housing our state of the art golfing simulator. Winners Bar Manager, Roberto Rossi, as well as his team are well liked by members and visitors, which has been another factor to its popularity.
The Championship 18 hole course has also has seen the highest standards with members and guests commenting on the consistent condition. Golf Course Manager David Jakeway and Mark Lamort, Head Greenkeeper are currently working on a new thatch removal, aeration and top dressing programme, as well as introducing new irrigation tanks and turf produces to meet the high standards expected on our golf course.
“2017 saw the strongest ever set of applicants for the Welsh Golf Club of the Year with Abersoch, Cardigan, Clyne, Newport (Rogerstone), and North Wales being shortlisted along with former winners Langland Bay and Pyle and Kenfig. Bryn Meadows had submitted strong applications in the last two years, but 2017 saw many of their ongoing projects come to a successful fruition. They are a great example that even in these difficult times, golf clubs can adapt and thrive.”
Wales Golf Chief Executive, Richard Dixon.
To celebrate the accolade, a Club of the Year Celebration will take place on Friday 11thMay from 7pm in Winners Bar. Members and distinguished guests will get to enjoy a complimentary BBQ served on the decking overlooking the 10thand 11thfairways. The resident DJ will also be on hand to help keep the celebrations going into the early hours.
